title: Bronchial washing levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) correlate with overall survival in NSCLC patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to define pre-treatment VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 levels in serum and bronchial washing samples of NSCLC patients in order to examine their correlation to survival. Forty patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC were enrolled. The results indicated that circulating VEGF was correlated to T-classification, as were the ratios of VEGF/VEGFR2 in serum and washing. Best chemotherapy response was observed at lower serum and washing VEGF concentrations. Higher VEGF levels in washing were associated with worse overall survival and progression-free survival. Similar were the results at high values of VEGF/VEGFR2 ratio in washing. Multivariate analysis revealed VEGFR2 levels in serum and washing as independent markers for overall survival. In conclusion, washing VEGFR2 levels are correlated to overall survival, whereas serum and washing VEGF levels are predictive of chemotherapy response. These could help recognize NSCLC patients who benefit from an aggressive therapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens School of Medicine, Greece.
authors.forename: Andriani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charpidou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gkiozos
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konstantinou
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eleftheraki
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Demertzis
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.forename: Kostas N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Syrigos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2